CHANGES AFTER DEATH – LATE SIGNS

Željka Burčul Mentor: A. Žmegač Horvat

Late changes

start 24 hours postmortem

putrefaction mummification adipocere

PUTREFACTION

the most common process 25 - 30ºC and medium humidity Caspar rule 1-2 days postmortem → pseudomelanosis,

marbling, blisters, distension of the body exeptions: uterus, prostate, tendons,

ligaments result: skeletalization

Pseudomelanosis

Marbling

Cadaveric emphysema

MUMMIFICATION

in dry conditions primary and secondary drying out of corpse usually takes half to one year

Mummification

ADIPOCERE

in wet conditions body fat → waxy compound surface → internal organs it begins 1-2 months after death and ends

after hundred years

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death Dušan Zečević i suradnici: Sudska medicina i

deontologija Richard Shepherd: Simpson's Forensic

Medicine